DODGERS, PADRES WILL LIKELY GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

The Padres begin a three-game series tonight at Dodger Stadium against the team with which just four days prior they engaged in an on-field melee that led to a postgame confrontation and a barrage of strong words.

Yet, for all the presumed possibilities for violence in the Padres and Dodgers meeting so soon after Carlos Quentin went after Zack Greinke, inciting both benches to clear and something of a national debate on Quentin’s baseball IQ, there are many reasons the rematch will see only pitches — not punches — thrown.

Not the least of those reasons should be that today is the day set aside to honor Jackie Robinson. His widow, in fact, will be at Dodger Stadium.

But, moreover, both teams will be officially admonished before the game that no retaliation will be tolerated. The first stray pitch could well result in the ejection of the offending pitcher and his manager.

And, perhaps the best protection against tensions spilling over is that the guest of honor won’t even be present. Quentin forewent the appeal of his eight-game suspension on Sunday and won’t be with the team.

“There would have been more attention on it because he was there,” Padres manager Bud Black said of Quentin’s presence. “I still think the game would have been played out.”

Black has been in pro baseball as a player, coach and manager since 1979. It would be difficult to estimate the number of bench clearing incidents he has witnessed. He has seen, carry over, sure. But he has more often experienced the aftermath being business as usual.

“Emotions run high,” Black said. “Then over time, even though it’s just three days, things do have a way of calming down.”

You can see the logic behind Black’s hopefulness.

For their part, Padres players were simply backing up their teammate on Thursday. This wasn’t their beef. They want this behind them.

The Dodgers, now, they’re ticked off. One of their aces is shelved for two months, and they believe it’s Quentin’s fault.

“I don’t think they should be mad because Greinke got hurt,” he said. “It happens. If he’d sidestepped him …”

Marquis listed some of the batter-on-pitcher violence he has seen, including going old school with Nolan Ryan and Robin Ventura.

“I don’t think anyone ever missed two months after getting punched in the face,” Marquis said. “(Greinke) didn’t have to lower his shoulder.”

The 14-year veteran, who will pitch Tuesday in Los Angeles, seemed almost bored by the idea that last week’s violence would beget more in the coming days.

“These things happen,” Marquis said. “They’re part of baseball. You have to be able to separate the game stuff from the personal stuff. You’ve got to do a little more searching as a player to understand the game. ... Guys get hit, guys charge the mound. It is what it is.”